Egomaniac

Personnel: Jesse Kongos (vocals, guitar, pedal steel guitar, programming); Danny Kongos (vocals, guitars, slide guitar, mandolin, accordion, programming); Jonny Marlow (vocals, guitars, accordion, piano, programming); John Kongos (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Kongos.
Recording information: Tokoloshe Studios.
Photographer: Jonny Marlow.
The sophomore major-label outing from the South African-born American quartet, Egomaniac offers up another knotty set of beat-heavy electro-Soweto alt-rock that's as idiosyncratic as it is stadium-ready. Kongos became an international sensation in 2013 after their propulsive debut single, "Come with Me Now," burrowed its way into everything from television commercials to sporting events, and Egomaniac wastes little time in trying to replicate that formula with the equally dynamic "Take It from Me." Built on a foundation of fat synth bass, jackhammer beats, and Johnny Kongos' punchy accordion playing, it, along with the similarly propulsive "I Don't Mind," the latter of which eschews the township accordion with some peppy Malian electric guitar work, provides Egomaniac with some of its most immediate and gratifying moments. ~ James Christopher Monger